OTHER PROMINENT FIGURES OP THE PERIOD 319 



developed the leading Perclieron breeding district 

 of the United States. 



William Hurt, whose operations as a PercherOffl 

 breeder began in 1882, probably bred more high- 

 class Percherons than any other breeder in McLean 

 county. His foundation stock was obtained from 

 the Dillons, and he secured in Powerful 6670 (Bay- 

 ard 7519) one of the best sires ever used in central 

 niiuois. Powerful was foaled in 1878 and imported 

 in 1882 by Dillon Bros. He was a gray, about 17 

 hands high and weighed more than a ton — a mas- 

 sive, well-proportioned draft horse. He was a 

 grandson of Favori 1st (711), one of the best and 

 largest horses of his time. Powerful was purchased 

 almost immediately after importation by Hurt and 

 was owned by him till February, 1898, when he 

 was sold conditionally to A. L. Eobison, Sr., who 

 used him till his death in 1905 at the ripe age of 27 

 years. 



The colts sired by Powerful had size and good 

 underpinning. Loiret 8181, one of his sons bred by 

 Hurt, won first at the Illinois State Fair in 1888. 

 Capsheaf 16986 was another of Powerful 's sons of 

 showyard character, and he was valued most highly 

 as a sire of market horses. Levetta P. 10285 and 

 Christiaa P. 16608 were two of his daughters that 

 proved to be show mares and remarkable producers. 

 These were all bred by William Hurt, and his sound 

 judgment of what constituted merit in a draft horse 

 made him one of the most influential breeders of 

 his time. He exhibited freely, but chiefly at local 



